The Pulvers needed help with forming a legal entity, advice on marketing and on protecting their product against knockoffs. So Dick Fenster put together a team of SCORE volunteers that included a lawyer and two engineers with patent and marketing experience.

Now is the time to think about dusting off your old business plan as the economy improves. A business plan is required to obtain a loan or venture capital. It is uniquely designed as a sales tool to get financing.

Although small business, economic stimulus lending is being widely criticized, $5,000 to $25,000 is available to you if you have a reasonable credit score and meet basic underwriting criteria.

Even if you cannot afford a blue-chip board of directors, there is a village of mentors willing to help existing and startup businesses succeed.